James s



PATENTED DEC. 18, 1860 J. S. GRAY.

SELF GENERATING VAPOR BURNER.

w SN

Asxm

m: NORRIS Pzrzns 00.. PHOTO-LITHDV, WASHINGTON, n c.

' To all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT orrion- JAMES S. GRAY, OF NE\V YORK, N. Y.

VAPOR-LAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent N o. 30,965, da-ted December 18, 1860.

Be it known that I, J AMES S. GRAY, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Self-GeneratingVapor-Burners, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichmake part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 represents aView, in perspective, of a self-generating vapor burner embracing myimprovement. Fig. 2 represents a vertical, transverse, axial sectionthrough the same, and Fig. 3 represents a view of the under side :of theheater-cap.

My invention relates to that class of Vapor burners or lamps in whichthe fluid from which the vapor is generated is contained in a reservoirsituated at a distance from the burner and conveyed to it by a pipe; inorder that the main body of the fluid may not be exposed to the heat ofthe flame;

whereby, the liability to accidents is greatly diminished. Owing to itsmany advantages this class of burners is now very generally used; andnumerous attempts have recently been made to improve their constructionand mode of operation; but, so far as In knowledge extends, they are alldeficient in some of the elements essential to successful operation. Inthese burners, as heretofore constructed, the wick tube is carried upabove the level of the jet or tip of the burner; and in many instances achamber is formed immediately above the flame into which the fluid flowsand is converted into vapor. This method of construction is, in myestimation, objectionable for many reasons. From the number of pieces ofwhich such burners are necessarily composed; and from the extent ofsurface they present to the heat, they are very liable to get out oforder and to become leaky from the constant working of the joints,caused by the expansion and contraction of the tubes. Moreover, wheneverthese burners are exposed to a draft sufliciently strong to deflect theflame against the wick-tube, the latter soon becomes so hot as to charthe wick, which charring causes the wick to become gummy and clog,necessitating frequent changes.

It is the object of my invention to provide a burner which whilecombining the advantages of the class of burners above mentioned, shallyet be free from the defects incident to their mode of construction. Tothis end I employ a wick-tube of the kind in general use, and connect itwith a reservoir of burning fluid in any suitable manner. To the upperpart of this wick-tube a bracket or nib containing the vapor-tube andburner is attached in such manner that the burner shall be placedsomewhat below the upper part of the Wick-tube, but "not so far that thebright part of the flame may not rise above it.

A cap which is heated by the flame of the burner is supported a suitabledistance above it by means of solid bearer-s which also answer thepurpose of conductors to convey the heat from the cap to the wicktube.The cap may be corrugated or have ribs or flanges cast upon its underside to increase its heating surface. It may also be perforated orderthat the heated air from the flame may pass through the holes in it,

and thus increase its "temperature. The flow of the fluid through thewick-tube may be regulated by means of asuitable 'cut-ofl.

In the accompanying drawings rny improvement is represented as appliedto a burner intended to be used at a distance from and below thereservoir of fluid. The

supply-pipe A, is connected with the reservoir and provided with astop-cock a, of the -V-varietythat is to say, the plug is made solid andhas a V-shaped groove passing partiallyaround its periphery. This groovegradually increases in size from one end to the other so that the flowof the fluid may beregula'ted at will by turning the plug in its seat. Astand and circle B, may be placed upon the supply-pipe to support .aglobe or shade; .and a screen of wire-gauze may be secured to the circleor ring to prevent the flame from being deflected by too great a rush ofair.

A wick-tube C, is securely attached to the v supply-pipe, and providedwith a wick 0, to convey the fluid to the generator or chamber at theupper part of the tube. The wick should extend to a point a shortdistance below the level of .the vapor-tube d, for if carried up to thesame level it would be more liable to become charred, or to cause anoverflow of the fluid. A lighting-cup or dish a, may also be placed uponthe wick tube.

A bracket or nib D, is attached to the upper part of the wick-tube;which bracket projects downward a short distance and supports theburner-tip (Z which communicates with the wick-tube through a channelcl, in the bracket. This bracket serves to absorb and retain the heatfrom the flame and aids materially in the volatilization of the fluid;it forms what I term the backheater. The tip cl, is inserted into itsseat in such manner as to admit of its ready removal or replacement.Wings or horns 03 may be provided to assist in spreading the flame, andaccumulating heat.

Two solid standards or conductors E, aroject above the bracket andsupport a heatercap or plate F. These conductors I prefer to make oblongor oval in their cross-section, and to place them with their thin edgetoward the flame, in order that they may .cast as little shadow aspossible. The heater F is supported directly over the burner-tip, but atsuch distance therefrom as not to interfere with the diifusion of thelight; and yet near enough readily to absorb the heat evolved by theflame. This distance will, of course vary with the size of the burneremployed. The heater-cap in this instance is represented as providedwithparallel ribs or ridges (f) to increase the extent of its heatingsurface. The same end would obviously be attained by corrugating thecap; but not, in my judgment, in so advantageous a manner. I alsoperforate the cap with numerous small holes f, through which the heatedproducts of combustion may pass and thus serve to heat the cap morethoroughly. I prefer to cast the bracket, conductors and heater-cap allin one piece as it renders the conduction of the heat more perfeet andlessens the cost of construction of the burner. 1

The operation of the burner is as follows: Thereservoir being suppliedwith fluid, and the wick properly arranged in its tube, the stop-cock a,is opened, the fluid then rises in the wick-tube C, nearly to its top.The burner may then be lighted either by a torch, or by pouring a smallquantity of alcohol or fluid into the cup 0, and igniting it. The

heat thus generated converts the fluid in the wick-tube into vapor whichflows through the channel cl, and escapes through the et cl, where it isinflamed. The flame of the burner soon heats the bracket D, andheater-cap F, especially the latter, the heat from which is communicatedrapidly to the wick-tube by the conductors E. Thus the lamp becomes in afew moments a selfgenerating one and will continue to burn as its supplyof fluid is kept up; which supply can readily be adjusted to thequantity of light desired by means of the groove in the stop-cock. Thelight will of course continue to burn (even after the stop-cock isentirely closed) until the fluid already in the wick-tube is evaporated;or, until the tube becomes cold.

The burner may be cleaned at any time by unscrewing the wick-tube,removing the burner-tip from its socket, and a plug or screw from thetop of the wick-tube and passing a wire or other suitable instrumentthrough the openings.

It will thus be seen that by my improved combination and arrangement ofparts I am enabled to obtain a burner combining the qualities ofsimplicity, cheapness, efliciency, and utility in a high degree; and onewhich at the same time is capable of being made an ornamental as well asa useful fixture.

I do not claim broadly under this application any of the above-mentioneddevices per se, but

Having thus fully described the construction and operation of myimproved burner what I do claim therein as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

The combination of the wick-tube C, bracket D, conductors E, andheater-cap F, when arranged for joint operation substantially in themanner described for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

7 JAMES S. GRAY.

Witnesses:

ALEX. J. WALKER, J OSIAH WATERMAN.

